FRESNO, Calif. – St. Francis placed three runners among the top 20 to lead the team to a ninth-place finish overall Saturday at Woodward Park.

“We knew our team would show up well prepared,” said assistant coach Mason Myers. “The girls had two weeks since our last race to mentally prepare. Lauren, Miranda and Madison all had huge PRs on this course. It was very exciting.”

St. Francis joined team winner Great Oak as the only two teams to place three runners among the top 25. Great Oak won the overall title with 76 points, followed by Davis Senior (149), Trabucco Hills (154), Capistrano Valley (157) and Clovis North (188) in the top five. St. Francis was ninth overall with 221 points, recording their third straight top 10 finish at the state championships.
Senior Lauren LaRocco led the team as she has done all season, placing sixth overall in 17:26 to earn medalist honors.

“I raced a typical race for me and made up a lot at the end,” said LaRocco. “Unfortunately, if I had picked it up a little earlier, I could have got top five. I did the best I could.”

“It was a great way for her to cap off her cross country career at St. Francis,” said Myers.

LaRocco improve her final position each season, placing 16th as a junior (18:10), 44th as a sophomore (19:05) and 62nd as a freshman.

“I am sad the season is over and that I ran my last high school cross country race,” said LaRocco. “I am happy to see my improvement over the years. It is hard right now.”

Junior Miranda Myers was the second Troubadour across the line and third junior overall in the field in 13th (17:52), while senior Madison Rawson finished 21st (18th in the team scoring) in 18:05.

Sophomore Chase Worthen was 121st/92nd and Peyton Bilo crossed 123rd/94th. Junior Camille Boudreaux did not finish the race.

“We were all confident and positive going in,” said LaRocco. “We really had a good shot. It was not our day I guess. It is a little disappointing.”

The members of the St. Francis cross country team will now get ready for track and field season in the spring.

CIF Girls Cross Country State Championships presented by Farmers
Division I Team Results (Top 10)

1. Great Oak 76; 2. Davis Sr. 149; 3. Trabuco Hills 154; 4. Capistrano Valley 157; 5. Clovis North 188; 6. Buchanan 191; 7. San Clemente 194; 8. Yucaipa 213; 9. St. Francis (sac) 221; 10. Vista Murrieta 249.

Division I Individual Results
1. Fiona O’Keefe, Davis Sr. 16:59; 2. Marissa Williams, Palisades Charter, 17:04; 3. Destiny Collins, Greak Oak, 17:09; 4. Sarah Robinson, Gunn, 17:16; 5. Leigh Moffett, Clovis North, 17:25; 6. Lauren LaRocco, St. Francis, 17:26; 7. Haley Doris, Great Oak, 17:34; 8. Erin Holton, Rancho Cucamonga, 17:38; 9. Roni Yamane, Arcadia, 17:40; 10. Grace Schafer, Capistrano Valley, 17:50.
St. Francis Individual Results
13. Miranda Myers, 17:52; 21. Madison Rawson, 18:05; 121. Chase Worthen, 19:36; 123. Peyton Bilo, 19:39; 159. Ariel Medina, 20:21.